Pursuing gender equality in Astronomy in basic education: the case of the project “Girls in the Museum of Astronomy and Related Sciences”

¹ Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins, Coordenação de Educação em Ciências, Rua General Bruce 586, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
² Museu da Vida, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Brasil, 4365 - Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
³ Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Tiradentes, 148, Niterói, Brazil

¹ Corresponding author: sandra.benitez.herrera@gmail.com

Published online: 1 February 2019

Abstract

It is well known that the number of women in scientific careers is significantly lower than the number of men, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) areas. Considering that science should be used for the benefit of all, by excluding women from the production process of scientific knowledge, we are giving up of 50% of the intellectual capacity to different science fields. Thus, the Museum of Astronomy and Related Sciences, whose mission is to expand society's access to scientific knowledge, promotes the project "Girls in the Museum", aimed at the continuous education of seven high-school female students in topics of astronomy with the goal of stimulating them into liking science. Concurrently with the project, interviews were conducted to evaluate the initiative according to the participants' perspectives, as well as to understand their perceptions about science prior and after six months of the project. We found that the participants were satisfied with the format and content of the project, comprised of theoretical talks and practical workshops. The resulting discourses show that they now view science as something closer to their lives and are more confident to promote scientific discussions. These results show the importance of providing young females with role models they can look up, especially at the age when they are about to make decisions concerning their future career.